Weigela plant named ‘Kolsunn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant named ‘Kolsunn’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; dark reddish brown young stem coloration; and green and white variegated leaves.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION/CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

Weigela florida cultivar Kolsunn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigelaplant, botanically known as Weigela florida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Kolsunn’.

The new cultivar is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theWeigela florida ‘Variegata’, not patented. The new Weigela wasdiscovered by the Inventor in 1996 in a controlled environment inAmstelveen, The Netherlands, within a population of plants of‘Variegata’. The cultivar Kolsunn was discovered and selected by theInventor on the basis of its green and white variegated leaves.

Asexual reproduction of the new Weigela by terminal cuttings taken atBoskoop, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this newWeigela are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Kolsunn’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Kolsunn’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Dark reddish brown young stem coloration.

3. Green and white variegated leaves.

Plants of the new Weigela are most similar to plants of the parent, theWeigela ‘Variegata’. However, plants of the new Weigela differ fromplants of ‘Variegata’ in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of‘Variegata’ are green and yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Weigela, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Weigela.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Kolsunn’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical lateral branch of ‘Kolsunn’.

The photograph at the middle of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical upper surfaces of fully expanded and developing leaves of‘Kolsunn’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of the upper surface of a typical flower of ‘Kolsunn’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Weigela has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however,any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nurseryand under commercial production practices. Plants were about two yearsold and pruned annually. The photographs and description were takenduring the late summer when day temperatures ranged from 14 to 20° C.and night temperatures ranged from 7 to 12° C.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Weigela florida cultivar Kolsunn.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Weigela florida‘Variegata’, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 30 days at 20° C. Winter: About 50days at 12° C.

Time to produce a rooted young plant.—Summer: About 90 days at 20° C.Winter: About 120 days at 12° C.

Root description.—Freely branching; medium thickness; brown in color.

Plant description:

Plant form.—Upright and outwardly spreading perennial shrub.

Growth habit.—Vigorous; dense and bushy growth habit.

Plant height.—About 2 m.

Plant width (spread).—About 2 m.

Growth rate.—Plants grow about 25 cm per month during the spring inBoskoop, The Netherlands.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internodelength: About 5.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Young:176A to 178A. Woody: N199B to N199C. Lenticels: Density: Sparse. Length:About 1.5 mm. Width: About 0.5 mm. Color: On young stems: Close to 198C.On woody stems: 198D.

Foliage description.—Leaves opposite, single, and generally symmetrical.Length: About 10 cm. Width: About 4.9 cm. Shape: Ovate to elliptic.Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Finely serrulate. Texture,upper and lower surfaces: Slightly rugose; very short hairs mostly alongveins. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, uppersurface: Central area, between 146A and 137A; surrounded by 158A; atedge of margin, 58A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Central area,138B; surrounded by 159B tinted with 63D; at edge of margin, 58A. Fullyexpanded leaves, upper surface: Central area, between 147A and 137A;surrounded by 158C to 158D. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:Central area, 138B and 191A; surrounded by 160C to 160D. Vein color,upper surface: 194A. Vein color, lower surface: 194A; towards base,165B. Petiole: Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: Uppersurface: 146C. Lower surface: 165B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Pink single campanulate flowers arranged interminal and axillary pairs or small clusters of three to four flowers;about 58 flowers and flower buds per lateral branch. Flowers notpersistent. Flowers face mostly upright or slightly outward.

Natural flowering season.—Plants flower twice a year. First floweringperiod is in the spring, typically May in Boskoop, The Netherlands; thesecond flowering period is late summer, typically late August to earlySeptember in Boskoop, The Netherlands; flowering periods last about onemonth; flowering continuous during these periods.

Postproduction longevity.—Flowers typically last about five days on theplant.

Fragrance.—Very faint, sweet and slightly lemon-like.

Flower buds.—Height: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape:Oblanceolate. Color: Mostly 63B; towards the apex, 62D; towards thebase, 157D.

Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.6 cm. Depth: About 3.5 cm.

Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five, fused at base. Length: About 3.9 cm.Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Aspect: Apices, slightlyreflexed. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lowersurfaces: Smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: 65B to 65C. Whenopening, lower surface: 64C to 64D. Fully opened, upper surface: 64D to65A. Fully opened, lower surface: 64D.

Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, fused at base. Length: About 9 mm.Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate to linear. Apex: Acute.Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth; glabrous. Lower surface:Pubescent. Color: Developing and fully expanded sepals, upper surface:144A. Developing and fully expanded sepals, lower surface: 144A to 144B.

Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Orientation: About5 to 25° from vertical. Strength: Moderately strong. Color: 143B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About five. Anthershape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 4.5 mm. Anther color: 165Bto 165C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 155A. Pistils: Quantityper flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.4 mm. Stigma shape: Globular,flattened. Stigma color: 155A. Style length: About 3.3 mm. Style color:155A. Ovary color: 154C.

Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Days to ripening: About 150. Type:Capsule. Shape: Oblong. Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 200B.

Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: More than 100. Length: Less than 0.5 mm.Diameter: Less than 0.5 mm. Color: Light brown.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Weigela have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Weigela.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Weigela have been observed totolerate temperatures ranging from −30 to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant named‘Kolsunn’, as illustrated and described.